Leadership Thoughts

Janet DesGeorges, H&V Executive Director

Below is a compilation of thoughts about what it takes to be a leader at Hands & Voices! Hope you enjoy these simple comments! These are taken from the bi-monthly H&V E-NEWS series. If you would like to get on the list to receive information, resources, and updates from Hands & Voices, contact: janet@handsandvoices.org

What are your priorities?

“It is easy to develop a list of fifteen to twenty priorities, but I would argue that this is the same as having no priorities. Human beings typically can perform at a high level only if they focus their efforts, and the greater the number of priorities you have, the harder it becomes to focus.”
(Robert Steven Kaplan, What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential)

So, what are your priorities? I have discovered over the years that many people would like me to focus on their priorities, and if I don’t have a good mechanism for the n-word (“NO”), then I may never get to what is really important to me and to achieving our goals at H&V. Remember, sometimes saying ‘NO’ to someone else’s request for your time/energy is a ‘YES’ to getting to what you know are the really important things. So, today, you might want to practice a ‘no’ or two. Someone once told me that my plate is full, and every time I say ‘YES’ to something, something else on that plate is slipping off. That visual has helped me to understand that there are only so many hours in the day, and we just have to be smart about our desire to say ‘YES’ as well as our ‘NO’. I am so grateful for all of you out there that have said ‘YES’ to the priority of supporting families via the Hands & Voices network. Now THERE’S a good ‘YES’!

Slow Down

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” -Eddie Cantor

It is always good to reflect on how far we’ve come at Hands & Voices, and where we are going! With over 50 chapters in full swing here in the U.S. and abroad, it is more important than ever to know where we are going and why! To all of you who put your heart and soul into this organization, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Don’t forget to have a little ‘down time’ when needed. Remember that our organization is here for the long haul. We want to be a part of something that will exist beyond us, and into the next generation of children who are deaf/hh. So, relax…. AND get ready for a busy, action packed year of supporting families who have children who are d/hh. I know I am!

Feeling Overwhelmed

“When you come upon a wall, throw your hat over it, and then go get your hat.” – Anonymous

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Wondering if you really have time for all this? (And by ‘this’ I mean improving the systems that serve our children who are deaf/hh.) There are times for all of us when the obstacles seem too challenging. Someone says, ‘we tried that and it can’t be done’ and that seems to diffuse or deflate us. We are not sure whether our efforts will really make a difference. REMEMBER where we have come from, what we have accomplished already, and what we want to achieve.

We seek to support:

-A solid foundational start to the journey for our kids through informed decision making.
-Strong, healthy, communicating, language-laden children.
-Educational Excellence for all deaf/hh students.
-Prepared students ready to enter the work force.

Sounds daunting? If it were easy, others before us would have achieved these goals already. Keep your eye on the prize and keep moving forward. Together we can make a difference!

Pass it On

PASS IT ON…. One of our HQ Board members, Harold Johnson recently sent me a link to a TED talk about ‘Crowd Accelerated Innovation’ – talking about the concept of information dissemination and innovation in this age of technology (specifically YouTube). Not only the ability to pass on information, but about how innovation can actually be replicated and improved upon as it is passed on from one source to another. It’s been one of the defining characteristics of H&V. One chapter has a good idea, and another chapter replicates and builds upon on it -and successful support to families grows in both quantity and quality. So, when you have a good idea, a successful event, or good resources you’ve come across -pass it on… If you are interested in this concept and want to see the TED talk, click here.

Process is Important

“It’s not just what we do, but how we do it!” One of our favorite sayings around H&V HQ is to ask ourselves as staff/board members, “If I was not able to continue in my position, could the organization go on without me?” That is sometimes hard to do when our self-identity and desire to be needed is embroiled in our lives as leaders. This question ties to our current strategic plan focusing on sustainability and capacity. Organizations at some point cannot exist or depend on one particular individual. But it’s important to expand this concept beyond just the ‘what’ needs to get done to the ‘how’. What are the processes in place that keep the organization healthy? Decision making, prioritization of projects, project management plans…. It’s not just our ‘to do’ items that need consideration. It’s ensuring the procedures are in place and in writing so that if we left tomorrow, others could step in and not only know what to do, but how to do it. We want H&V to be strong, healthy and moving forward long after we are gone. That’s an empowering thought!